Tank-sealing device



April 8, 1930. E. G. FRIEDMAN 1,754,091

TANK SEALING DEVICE Filed Jan 4. 1929 INVENTOR V ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1930 Fri EMERY G. FRIEDMAN, OF TAMPICO, MEXICO TANK-SEALING DEVICE Application filed January 4, 1929. Serial No. 330,215.

this invention relates to a tank sealingdevice, the generalobjectoi the invention being to provide means whereby the tank can breatheQior compressed air or gas in the tank acan escape therefrom and air can enter the tank if a vacuum occurs therein, the passage through which the compressed fluid escapes and'the air enters being sealed by mercury or the like which acts to :retain the gases till the 10 tank andprevents fire.

This inventionzalso consists in certain other :ieatureso'f construction and in the combination 1 and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in 15 the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed outin the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein like characters denote like or cor- 29 responding parts throughout the several a top of the tank which is formed with an opening and 2 indicates an annular member which is fastened to the top around the openlng, this member being formed with an upstanding flange 3 at its inner periphery. A covering member A is attached to the flange and is formed with a downwardly and outwardly sloping portion 4: of annular shape having a cylindrical part 5 connected to its inner per, riphery and an annular gutter part 6 connect- 0 ed to its outer perlphery and a vertically arranged cylindrical part 7 is connected with the outer wall of the gutter part. A second gutter part 8 has its inner wall connected with the top of the cylindrical part 7 and an upa wardly and outwardly slopmg flange 9 1s connect-ed with the outer wall of the vgutter sart 8. The centralportion ofthe gutter part is-connected withthe flange 8. Tubes 10 connect the gutter part 8 with the gutter part 6. Mercury or the like is placed in the member A, as shown at :11, this mercury :filling the gutter part 5 and covering-thepart a. A roof part 12 is adj ustably supported on the cylindrical part 7 through means of the threaded rods lg'connected with therooiipart and engaging threadedsockets 14: formed on the up per edge of the cylindrical part 7. This roof part is provided with a depending flange 15 at its periphery which is spaced iroin'the upperiedge of the flange 9 and prevents rain or the like from enterlng the space between the ,upper edge of the flange9 and the root part.

in second depending flange 16 is connected w1th the root partand extends intorthe space viormedbythe iiange 9 and the upperrend of the cylindrical part (7. Athird flange 17 is connected with the roof part and eXt-endslinto themercury ."1n the gutter part 6 this latter flange {tChlE WlZ'O prevent-the gases from the tank whi e-111p ass through the cylindrical part 5 from flowing out-between the roohpa'rt and the partii. hleweyer, when the gases within t 1e tank are compressed tea certainpoint, they will force the mercury upwardlyrbetween the flange 17:11I1Cl the part 7 sothat they :can pass Lnider the flange 117 and throught-he mercury,

as shown in Figure 3, "the gases escaping through the space between theouter port on of the root parta-ndtlregutter 8 and its flange 9. It these gases force any a of the {mercury over theupper-edge otthepart 7 into the gutter 8, this anercury will return to the gut tor Bthroughthertubes 10, llheflange 1-6 prevents any lot the mercury passing entirely forthesealingliquid 11. The cylin dricalpartbacts asasplashflangetokeep the sealingiliquid irolnsplashing into the tank. By adwstably COIQRGQHDQ the=rooi part 1.2 to

the part 7, the degree of pressure at which-the will escape can beregulated. Thisarrangementialso facilitates the assembling of the parts. i

From the foregoing it willbe seen that this device will permit the tank to ?breathe, for

and the gutter 8 with its tubes 10 are ar-' ranged within the space formed by the flange 17. In this form, the flange 16 is of greater length than in the first form and overlaps the flange 9 which is formed on the exterior edge of the part 4. The operation of this form of the invention is the same as the first form,

but in this form, the gases in the tank can.

escape more easily than in the first form and the air in the first form can enter more easily into the tank than in the modified form. The first form of the invention is designed for tanks having a high pressure discharge and a low pressure intake, while the second form of the invention is designed for tanks having a low pressure discharge and a high pressure intake.

This invention will allow a tank to breathe through a sealed passage when the breathing becomes necessary while filling, pumping out or by natural causes. Its tendency is to eliminate breathing by creating a pressure to exhale and a vacuum to inhale. The device is a fire prevention, is fool-proof,

will not freeze or rust and eliminates evap oration by retaining the gases inside the tank under pressure.

A drain plug may be placed in the lower part of the gutter 6 for cleaning purposes and an inspection plug or high level plug may be placed on one side of this gutter.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a container having a breather passage in its upper part, a gutter in the lower wall of the passage, one wall of the gutter being higher than the other, a flange connected with the top wall of the passage and extending into the gutter, said gutter containing a sealing fluid whereby the sealing fluid offers more resistance to the passage of the gases or air in one direction than it does to the passage of air or gas in the opposite direction, a second gutter connected with the high wall of the first gutter and tubes connecting the second gutter with the first gutter.

2. In combination with a container having a breather passage in its upper part, a gutter in the lower wall of the passage, one wall of the gutter being higher than the other, a flange connected with the top wall of the passage and extending into the gutter, said gutter containing a sealing fluid whereby the sealing fluid ofi'ers more resistance to the passage of the gases or air in one direction than it does to the passage of air or gas in the opposite direction, a second gutter connected with the high wall of the first gutter, tubes connecting the second gutter with the first gutter, and means for adjusting the upper wall of the passage in relation to the lower wall thereof.

3. In combination with a container having an opening in its top, a flange surrounding the opening, a gutter formed in the top and. surrounding and spaced from the flanged opening, said gutter containing a sealing fluid, one wall of the gutter being higher than the other wall, a second gutter connected with the high wall of the first gutter, tubes con necting the second gutter with the first gutter, a roof member covering the flanged opening and the gutters, adjustable supports for the roof member, an annular flange depending from the roof member and extending into the sealing fluid in the first gutter, a depending flange at the periphery of the roof member and an intermediate flange depending from the roof member and extending into one of the gutters.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

EMERY G. FRIEDMAN. 

